COTATI POLICE
DEPARTMENT
2025
ANNUAL
REPORT
203 W. SIERRA AVENUE, COTATI,
CA
NON-EMERGENCY: (707) 792-4611
Message from the Chief
2 Welcome to the City of Cotati and the Cotati Police Department. As your Chief of Police, I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve alongside the dedicated men and women of the Cotati Police Department and the community to whom we strive to deliver exceptional public safety service.
Our mission is to create a safe and vibrant environment for our residents, businesses, and visitors. Our promise to continuously earn and improve public trust through equity, empathy, and accountability is paramount to this ambition.
Cotati is a united city due to strong community support for our department. The partnerships we share with our community are made possible by the pledge we have made to proactively seek out opportunities to enhance meaningful relationships between our staff and residents, and diligently listen and respond to their needs in ways that value diversity and inclusion.
All of us at the Cotati Police Department are honored every day to provide superior service for our residents with pride and professionalism. We are humbled by the responsibilities entrusted upon us, and in turn, promise to carry out those duties with compassion, diligence, and the highest of ethical standards.
Chris Simmons, Chief of Police
Table of Contents
4) Organizational Chart
5) Calls for Service
6) Arrest Statistics
7) NIBRS Person Crimes
8) NIBRS Property Crimes
9) NIBRS Other Crimes
10) Citations
11-12) Citizen Complaints
13-15) SAFE Team
16-24) RIPA
25) Emergency Preparedness
26) DEA Prescription Drug Takeback
27) Sherman Block Supervisory
Leadership Institute
28-29) Training
3 30) Automated License Plate Reader
Technology
31-33) Use of Force
34) Assembly Bill 481
35) Neighborhood Watch Community Beat
Meetings
36) Patrol
37) Animal Control
38) Dispatch
39) K9 Team
40) Cadets & Volunteers
41) Community Outreach & Social Media
42) Commendations
43) 2025 Snapshot
ORGANIZATION
AL
CHART
4 CALLS
FOR
SERVICE
5 2022 2023 2024 2025
0 1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
4910
5445
5737
6510
5501
5772
6873
6372
Calls for Service Officer Initiated
ARREST
STATISTI
CS
* Penal Code section 849:
Arrested and released from
custody (not booked in
county jail) pending further
evidence or investigatory
leads (or for intoxication only
or low-level drug offenses).
This also includes subjects
arrested but no charges filed.
This is ultimately considered
a detention only.
6 2022 2023 2024 2025
0 50
100
150
200
250
300
350
175
215
318 320
183
128
172
117
27 39
67 72
Arrested/Booked Cited 849 Detention Release*
NATIONAL
INCIDENT
BASED
REPORTING
SYSTEM
(NIBRS)
TOTAL
“PERSON”
CRIMES
7 Kidnapping Aggravated
Assault
Simple
Assault
Assault -
Intimidation
Statutory
Rape
Forcible
Sodomy
Forcible
Fondling
Forcible Rape Forcible
Sexual
Assault with
Object
0 5
10 15
20 25
30 35
40 45
3 9
39 6
0 2
0 0
2 1
10 34
10 1
0 3
1 0
2024 2025
NATIONAL
INCIDENT BASED
REPORTING
SYSTEM
(NIBRS)
TOTAL
“PROPERTY”
CRIMES
8 Vandalism - Destruction of Property
Stolen Property Offenses
Fraud - Hacking/Computer Invasion
Fraud - Identity Theft
Fraud - Impersonation
Fraud - Credit Card / ATM
Fraud - False Pretenses
Counterfieiting / Forgery
Motor vehicle theft
General larceny / Theft
Theft of motor vehicle parts
Theft from motor vehicle
Theft from building
Shoplifting
Burglary / Breaking and Entering
Extortion / Blackmail
Arson
Robbery
0 5
10 15
20 25
30 19
5 0
2 3
0 11
4 12
17 5
8 1
21 16
2 1
4 20
8 1
5 4
2 15
4 6
20 3
18 5
26 10
3 3
0 2024 2025
NATIONAL
INCIDENT
BASED
REPORTING
SYSTEM
(NIBRS)
TOTAL “OTHER”
CRIMES
9 All Other -
Criminal
Trespass of
Real Property
Family
Offenses
DUI Disorderly
Conduct
Drug /
Narcotic
Offenses
Drug
Equipment
Violations
Pornography
/ Obscene
Material
Weapon Law
Violation
Animal
Cruelty
0 50
100
150
200
250
161
4 4
224
29 40 44
2 6
3 187
4 0
203
32 44
36 0
8 0
2024 2025
CITATION
S
10 577 total citations
issued in 2025
WRITTEN
WARNING
FIX-IT CITATION LICENSE
VIOLATION
MOVING
VIOLATION
MUNICODE
VIOLATION
NON-MOVING
VIOLATION
PARKING
VIOLATION
REGISTRATION
VIOLATION
0 50
100
150
200
250
93 91
24 189
37 17
90 68
47 137
15 191
10 10
92 75
2024 2025
CITIZEN
COMPLAINT
S
In 2025, the Police Department received a total of 2 complaints out of a total of 12,882 events (0.01%). The total logged events do not include numerous other interactions the department had with the community, such as daily information or informal interactions, or citizen business at the Dispatch counter, for example. The police department receives complaints through a variety of sources, including the official complaint form, city website, emails, telephone, and in-person. For every complaint received, the Police Department investigates the allegations completely.
The following are the sources of the complaints for calendar years 2024 and 2025:
11 Source of Complaints 2024 2025
In Person 0 0
Physical / Paper Form 0 1
Web Form 2 0
Email 1 1
Telephone 2 0
5 2
Initial Allegation 2024 2025
Conduct Unbecoming 3 0
Procedural 2 2
Use of Force 0 0
Not related to Police 0 0
5 2
CITIZEN
COMPLAINT
S
CATEGORIES OF ALLEGATION
Procedural: This category typically involves complaints of unfair parking enforcement, contesting traffic tickets or failure of the Officer to act.
Conduct Unbecoming: This category of allegation is a complaint of rude or discourteous behavior of the Officer.
Use of Force: This category of allegation is a complaint regarding Officer use of force.
Not related to Police: This category of allegation involves a complaint that is unrelated to the Cotati Police Department.
12 Outcome after
investigation 2024 2025
Unfounded 4 2
Sustained 1 0
TOTAL 5 2
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS
Sustained: The investigation disclosed sufficient evidence to prove the allegation.
Not Sustained: The investigation did not disclose sufficient evidence to prove the allegation.
Exonerated: The actions of the Officer which formed the basis for the allegation
are not violations of policy and/or law.
Unfounded: The investigation established that the allegation is not true. *Withdrawn/Closed: The allegation was rescinded by the complainant, resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction, or complainant was unresponsive in attempts 13 SPECIALIZED ASSISTANCE FOR EVERYONE (SAFE) TEAM
The South County SAFE Team provides three main services to the community:
1) Response to issues relating to mental health, addiction and homelessness 2) Non-emergency response for people in need
3) Proactive and continued community outreach
Cotati, Rohnert Park, and Sonoma State University have partnered to provide a mobile mental health crisis response team for our cities. The SAFE Team is available for response 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our SAFE team consists of a mental health professional/resource advocate and a medic (nurse, paramedic or EMT).
SAFE works proactively to address low level issues and provides preventative outreach to help ensure individuals don’t end up needing a higher level of care. SAFE can identify shelter options for the unhoused, mental health services for people in crisis, connect people with resources to address addiction, and provide health care that does not meet the threshold of an ambulance response.
When SAFE is not responding to calls-for-service, they conduct outreach to the unhoused, including evaluating their condition and providing shelter and counseling information.
SAFE is intended to benefit everyone by keeping police officers, firefighters, and paramedics available for other emergencies.
If you observe someone experiencing mental health or housing issues, you can contact SAFE at 707-792-4611 for non-emergencies or 911 for emergencies.
14 SPECIALIZED ASSISTANCE FOR EVERYONE (SAFE) TEAM
During 2025, The SAFE Team responded to 219 calls for service in Cotati.
Counseling Requests; 55
Death Notifications; 0
Public Assists; 50
Suicidal Subject; 10
Welfare Checks; 35
First Aid/Medical
Assessment; 1
Police/EMS Assist; 41
Community
Engagement/Outreach; 27
SAFE Team Calls for Service - 2025
15 SPECIALIZED ASSISTANCE FOR EVERYONE (SAFE) TEAM
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Dispatch
Self Initiated
89%
11%
SAFE Calls Initiated By
16 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
The Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) was created by AB953 (Weber, 2016). In addition to data collection requirements for California law enforcement, RIPA also created a statewide RIPA board to direct and analyze the data collected each year. The RIPA Board is a diverse group of members who represent the public, law enforcement, and educators.
The goal of the RIPA Board is to strengthen law enforcement-community relations in California through collaboration, transparency, and accountability. The California Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Attorney General, has the primary oversight of the RIPA Board.
One of the responsibilities of the RIPA Board has been to develop a “stop data” collection process. On July 1, 2018, the eight largest police agencies in California began collecting stop data and reporting the information to the DOJ.
A “RIPA stop” is defined as any detention or search, with the goal to “collect perceived demographic and other detailed data regarding pedestrian and traffic stops.” The bill requires an agency that employs between one and 334 peace officers to issue its first annual report to DOJ by April 1, 2023. (All police agencies in Sonoma County, including the Cotati Police Department, are in this category).
For transparency, the Cotati Police Department decided to collect RIPA data before the scheduled mandate.
Our Police Department is a member of a Public Safety consortium. Members of the consortium include the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and the cities of Cotati, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, and Windsor (Sonoma and Windsor contract police services with the Sheriff’s Department).
Collectively, the consortium agencies started collecting RIPA data using patrol cars’ mobile computers and smart phones on July 1, 2021. The data is collected by the consortium and transmitted to the DOJ daily for review and quality control.
17 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
The chart below reflects the total number of RIPA stops conducted during that year.
The following data was collecting during those RIPA stops:
2024 2025
0 500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
3269
3465
18 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
PERCEIVED RACE/ETHNICITY
Asian
Black / African American
Black / African American or White
Hispanic / Latine(x)
Hispanic / Latine(x) or White
Middle Eastern or South Asian
Native American
Pacific Islander
White
Mixed
Asian
Black / African American
Black / African American or White
Black /African American or Hispanic
/Latine(x)
Hispanic / Latine(x)
Hispanic / Latine(x) or Middle Eastern or
South Asian
Hispanic / Latine(x) or Native American
Hispanic / Latine(x) or White
Middle Eastern or South Asian
Pacific Islander
White
2024 2025
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
3.55% 5.93%
0.12%
34.46%
0.09%
2.78%
0.12% 1.28%
51.56%
0.09%
3.03%
6.46%
0.03% 0.03%
37.31%
0.03% 0.03% 0.03%
2.39% 0.66%
50.00%
19 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
PERCEIVED GENDER
Cisgender man /
boy
Cisgender
woman / girl
Transgender
man / boy
Transgender
woman / girl
Cisgender man /
boy
Cisgender
woman / girl
Transgender
man / boy
Transgender
woman / girl
2024 2025
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
70.76%
29.05%
0.12% 0.06%
73.23%
26.57%
0.14% 0.06%
20 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
PERCEIVED AGE GROUP
18-24
18%
25-34
30%
35-44
22%
45-54
15%
55-64
9% 65+
5%
Under 18
1%
2024
18-24
14%
25-34
28%
35-44
26%
45-54
16%
55-64
9% 65+
6%
Under 18
1%
2025
21 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
REASON FOR STOP
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Traffic violation
Reasonable suspicion that this person was engaged in criminal activity Known to be on parole / probation / PRCS / mandatory supervision Consensual encounter and search
Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant / wanted person Probable cause to arrest or search
Probable cause to take into custody under Welfare and Institutions Code section 5150 Investigation to determine if person was truant
Traffic violation
Reasonable suspicion that this person was engaged in criminal activity Consensual encounter and search
Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant / wanted person Known to be on parole / probation / PRCS / mandatory supervision Probable cause to take into custody under Welfare and Institutions Code section 5150 Probable cause to arrest or search
2025 2024
92.3%
3.6%
1.3%
1.1%
0.7%
0.7%
0.3%
0.0%
89.1%
6.3%
1.6%
1.2%
1.1%
0.4%
0.3%
22 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
BASIS FOR SEARCH
Condition of parole /
probation / PRCS /
mandatory
supervision
88 2%
Consent given
Evidence of crime
3 Exigent 0%
circumstances /
emergency
1 Incident to arrest 0%
385
11%
Suspected weapons
2 0%
Visible contraband
14 0%
No Search
Performed
3059
86%
Officer/Others safety
5 0%
2024 2025
Condition of parole /
probation / PRCS /
mandatory supervision
130
4%
Consent given
10 0% Evidence of crime
2 Exigent circumstances / 0%
emergency
1 0%
Incident to arrest
509
13%
Suspected weapons
2 Vehicle inventory (for 0%
search of property only)
4 0%
Visible contraband
5 0%
No Search
Performed
3233 Officer/Others safety
1 0%
23 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
DURATION OF STOPS (minutes)
Under 1-3 4–8 9–14 15–20 21–30 31–40 41–50 51+ Under 1-3 4–8 9–14 15–20 21–30 31–40 41–50 51+ 2024 2025
0 200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
572
1462
482
319
103
32 21
279
501
1683
557
282
81 30
52 280
24 RACIAL AND IDENTITY PROFILING ACT (RIPA)
RESULT OF STOPS
2024 2025
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Verbal Warning
Citation for Infraction
Custodial arrest without warrant
No action
In-field cite and release
Written Warning
Custodial arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant
Psychiatric hold (W&I Code 5150 or 5585.20)
Noncriminal or caretaking transport (including
transport by officer, ambulance or other agency)
65.63%
11.13%
7.71%
6.06%
4.65%
2.91%
1.53%
0.34%
0.06%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Verbal Warning
Citation for Infraction
Custodial arrest without warrant
No action
In-field cite and release
Written Warning
Custodial arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant
Psychiatric hold (W&I Code 5150 or 5585.20)
Noncriminal or caretaking transport (including transport by officer, ambulance or other agency)
71.21%
10.30%
8.28%
3.84%
3.26%
1.70%
1.04%
0.29%
0.09%
25 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
All Sonoma County Law Enforcement Agencies EVACUATION ZONES use “Hi-lo” sirens for emergency evacuations. HiLo sirens have a distinct European emergency vehicle sound. When you Hear the Hi-Lo, it’s Time
to Go. We will only use Hi-Lo sirens for emergency
evacuations.
To see which evacuation zone you live in, go to the
City website (www.cotaticity.org) and click on the
Police page.
The City of Cotati uses Civic Ready for routine and
emergency public safety alerts. If you have not
already done so, you may sign up at:
https://www.cotaticity.org/1526/Get-AlertsNotifications 26 PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKEBACK
The Cotati Police Department hosted a Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) prescription drug takeback event this year on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
The Cotai Police Department also has a bin in our public access lobby where you can dispose of prescription pills throughout the year.
Proper disposal of prescription drugs makes your home a safer place and it also benefits our environment. Keeping old medication in the house or throwing medications away in the garbage may be dangerous and lead to tragic accidents as they can end up in the mouths of children or household pets.
Many people also flush expired or unused medications down the toilet or drain, resulting in these drugs ending up in our lakes, streams, and water supplies.
Please remove pills from their containers and bag them up so there is plenty of room for all to dispose of their unwanted and expired medications.
27 SHERMAN BLOCK SUPERVISORY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
(SBSLI)
Cotati Police Sergeant Tyler Wardle graduated SBSLI on April 24, 2025. (SBSLI) is a program designed to stimulate personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making in California law enforcement front-line supervisors. Designed and implemented in 1988 through the efforts of California law enforcement professionals and top educators and trainers, the SBSLI is an intense program based on experiential learning techniques. Students are challenged to learn new ways to resolve issues through group and individual work.
The curriculum takes students through an analysis of management (planning, organizing, directing) and leadership (inspiring, challenging, developing) and how each discipline compliments the other. The course progresses from self-evaluation to interpersonal evaluation, to organizational relationships.
During the program, a typical successful student develops the ability to:
•Correlate the relationship between personal and organizational principles and values.
•Exercise greater leadership in personal and professional activities. •Increase personal influence with individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals.
•Analyze issues from multiple perspectives.
•Develop increased self-confidence and confidence in the ability of others. •Provide support and development for peers and subordinates. •Recognize and address areas for personal improvement.
•Effectively integrate management skills and leadership qualities. 28 TRAINING – POST TRAINING
The Cotati Police Department is certified by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST).
Much of POST training is mandated, to include perishable skills.
POST also conducts audits on all certified law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with training and hiring standards. Our police department continues to remain in POST compliance.
Officers and Dispatchers are required to complete 24 hours of Continuing Professional Training (CPT) during the determined training cycle as prescribed by POST. Additionally, full time Officers are required to complete 16 hours (as a part of or in addition to the 24 hours of CPT) of perishable skills training which include:
Ø Arrest and Control
Ø Firearms
Ø Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC)
Ø Use of Force
Ø Strategic Communication.
Many of the required perishable skills training courses encompass de-escalation training.
29 TRAINING - ADDITIONAL
In addition to required POST Continuing Professional Trainings, the Cotati Police Department routinely trains well beyond POST mandates with our police officers, police dispatchers, and civilian staff.
During 2025, the following additional trainings were attended and completed by staff:
Emotional Intelligence in Public Safety, Science-Based Interviewing introduction, Surveillance Techniques, Informant Development & Maintenance, Radar Operator, Radar-Laser Operator (Lidar) DUI Detection-Field Sobriety, Domestic Violence Update, Driver Draining EVOC, Emergency Vehicle Operations/Pursuit Driving EVOC, Drug Recognition Expert (Field Certifications), First Aid, Use of Force, Vehicle Pursuits, Strategic Communications, Field Training Supervisor/Administrator/Coordinator Course, Management School, Legal Updates, RAP Sheet Training, Scenario Evaluator Training, Active Shooter, Child Abuse/Sexual Assault, Courtroom Testimony, Sovereign Citizen, Elder/Dependent Abuse, Ethical Decision Making, Officer Wellness, Response to Natural Disasters, Response to Sexual Assault, Response to Critical Incidents, Arrest & Control Instructor, Arrest & Control, Executive Seminar, Sherman Block Leadership Institute, Region wide Emergency Operations Center Operations, Dispatch Radio Technology, Risk updates & risk assessment training conference, Legal Update: Positional Asphyxia, Legal Update: Use of Force, Police Vehicle Pursuits & Liability, Arrest & Control, Firearms/Tactical Rifle, Recruit Training Officer Orientation, SRJC Basic Police Academy.
30 AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER (ALPR) TECHNOLOGY
Since 2021 the Cotati Police Department deployed ALPR investigative technology. The police department received funding for the ALPRs through the State Homeland Security Grant totaling approximately $60,000. The purpose of the ALPRs is to identify lost or stolen vehicles/license plates or to help locate a vehicle involved in various crimes.
When Cotati has utilized ALPR, it has directly led to the identification and recovery of numerous stolen vehicles and vehicles associated with criminal activity within our city. Our officers also use the ALPR system for investigations and for public safety by adding wanted and dangerous vehicles into the system.
Though the department had patrol vehicles outfitted with in-car ALPR technology in 2023, ALPRs were not used due to compatibility issues with the Vigilant system and the in-car computer software from June 2023 – June 2024. Additionally, the in-car ALPRs were installed in vehicles that had to be recently decommissioned and are now being re-installed in newer patrol fleet vehicles.
----------
In October/November 2025, (2) Flock ALPR fixed cameras were approved, installed, and enabled.
During those last couple of months in 2025, Flock ALPRs were already used 5 times to positively identify vehicles in the commission of crimes in our city, identify and arrest suspects, recover stolen property, and locate stolen license plates.
31 USE OF FORCE
In 2025, the Cotati Police Department experienced zero (0) URSUS (California Department of Justice Use of Force Incident Reporting database) reportable uses of force.
URSUS CRITERIA
1. An incident that involves the shooting of a civilian by a peace officer.
2. An incident that involves the shooting of a peace officer by a civilian.
3. An incident in which the use of force by a peace officer against a civilian result in serious bodily injury or death.
4. An incident in which the use of force by a civilian against a peace officer results in serious bodily injury or death.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ __________
In Cotati, we have adopted a far more expansive and detailed definition of use of force (UOF).
CITY OF COTATI CRITERIA
1. Any display of force (unholstering specific police tools, including electronic devices [Taser], pepper spray, or firearm).
2. Any use of force by a peace officer beyond simple handcuffing In 2025 all UOF incidents were tracked using police record management software system. When a UOF occurs, officers record their incident using a checklist, which lists which officers were present (including mutual aid officers), what tool was used, whether officers or suspects received injuries, and why force was used. When supervisors review the arrest/incident report, it is flagged for UOF. Sergeants read the report narrative, review the UOF module, and view the officer’s Body Worn Camera. Management also reviews each UOF for any policy violations or an opportunity to consider alternate equipment, techniquesdeescalationor training in the future to reduce or avoid the use of force 32 USE OF FORCE
2025 CITY OF COTATI CRITERIA
Total Events for 2025: 12,882
Events that resulted in arrests: 509
Total events that resulted in arrest: 3.9%
Use of Force instances/events: 37 events
Total events that resulted in Use of Force: 0.29%
Use of Force Breakdown:
Although there were 37 UOF instances/events in 2025, several UOF events include the use of multiple tools/techniques, resulting in more tools/techniques used (total 48) than UOF events (37).
35 OF THE 37 USE OF FORCE INSTANCES/EVENTS RESULTED IN
ARREST/CUSTODY.
Tool/Technique Used Times Used
Baton/Impact Weapon 0
Bean Bag Shotgun Displayed 0
BOLA Wrap 0
Control Hold/Defensive Technique 26
Firearm Displayed 12
Firearm Discharged 0
Pepper Spray Displayed 1
Pepper Spray Discharged 0
Taser Displayed 3
Taser Discharged 4
WRAP 2
TOTAL 48
33 USE OF FORCE DEFINED
Baton/Impact Weapon: An impact tool to overcome resistance on an aggressive, combative, and/or uncooperative subject.
Bean Bag Shotgun: A less-than-lethal tool that projects bean bags from a shotgun platform.
BOLA Wrap: A tool that projects a weighted rope that wraps around and attempts to restrain an uncooperative subject.
Control Hold: Controlling someone who is uncooperative, resisting, aggressive, and/or combative.
Defensive Techniques: Defending oneself against someone who is actively resisting and/or attacking an officer.
Firearm Discharged: Firearm discharged by an officer during an event.
Firearm Displayed: Firearm removed from an officer’s holster during an event.
Pepper Spray Displayed: Display of an aerosol pepper spray (capsicum) at a subject to gain compliance.
Pepper Spray Discharged: Use of an aerosol pepper spray (capsicum) on an uncooperative, resisting, aggressive, and/or combative subject.
Taser Discharged: Darts launched or taser contact (drive-stun) on an uncooperative, resisting, aggressive, and/or combative subject.
Taser Displayed: Taser Removed from holster and displayed at a subject to gain compliance.
WRAP: A safe restraint system designed to protect officers and uncooperative, resisting, and/or combative subjects. 34 ASSEMBLY BILL 481
This bill requires a law enforcement agency to
obtain approval of the applicable governing
body, by adoption of a military equipment use
policy by ordinance at a regular meeting prior
to the funding, acquisition, or use of military
equipment, as defined.
In 2022 the Cotati City Council approved an
ordinance to direct our police department on
the use, deployment, and policy for Military
Equipment. The Council approved the use and
possession of our Command Van and Bean
Bag Shotguns.
In 2025 the Command Van was not
deployed. The Command Van was
decommissioned in 2025.
In 2025 Cotati Police had zero
deployments of the Bean Bag Shotgun.
______________
___
35 NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH COMMUNITY BEAT MEETINGS
Cotati Police Officers hosted two in-person
Neighborhood Watch Community Beat
meetings at the Police Station in 2025.
-----
Cotati is comprised of six areas (beats), which are
coincident with evacuation zones. Maps of both
beats and evacuation zones are available for view
on the Police page of our City Website.
An individual officer is assigned to each of the six
areas and their phone numbers and emails are
available to citizens and business owners to ask
questions and make requests. Officers rotate
annually to allow them to better learn the areas
and for residents and businesses to better know
our Officers.
36 PATROL
Our sworn police staff are here 24/7 hours a day to keep our community safe. The list of things that officers do on a daily basis is long, including the following summary of the main efforts our officers do to enhance the quality of life in Cotati.
• Protect life and property through the enforcement of laws & regulations; Proactively patrol assigned areas • Conduct traffic and parking enforcement
• Respond to calls for police service
• Conduct preliminary & follow-up criminal and traffic investigations • Conduct interviews
• Prepare written reports and field notes of investigations and patrol activities • Arrest and process those involved in criminal activity • Testify in court
• Emergency duties required during adverse weather conditions • Operate a law enforcement vehicle under emergency conditions day or night • Analyze legal documents including citations, affidavits, and warrants • Command emergency personnel at accident emergencies and disasters • Community Oriented Policing and community engagement
• Self-initiate traffic and/or criminal investigations
• Supplement animal control
• Perform bar and business checks
37 ANIMAL CONTROL
All of our sworn personnel are designated as animal control officers. Our police officers respond to calls for service regarding both domestic and wild animals. The Administrative Services Department is responsible for dog licensing for our City, using DocuPet in a collaboration with Rohnert Park. Please license your dogs so that we can better serve you and your pet if they get loose or have other issues.
Cotati contracts with Rohnert Park Animal Services for sheltering our animals.
As part of the No More Lost Pets campaign, Rohnert Park Animal Services offers FREE ID tags and microchips for all Rohnert Park and Cotati city residents! 38 DISPATCH
The Cotati Police Department employs five (5) full-time and two (2) part time Police Dispatcher/Clerks.
Our police dispatch is a Public Safety Answering Point
(PSAP) receiving all 911 calls for law enforcement, fire, mental health, and medical emergencies for both the
City of Cotati and the Sonoma State University (SSU)
campus (we have a dispatch contract with SSU Police
Department). In addition to 911 calls-for-service, our
dispatchers answer regular police business calls for our City, SSU, and also dispatch the SAFE team for the City and SSU. Our dispatchers are also clerks who process
police records and other administrative duties. Our lobby is open to the public 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. 39 K9 TEAM
In October of 2023, we acquired K9 Dolly from Scent Evidence K9 in Tallahassee, Florida. She is a purebred bloodhound whose sole purpose is to find missing/lost persons and fleeing suspects. Dolly is the only dog of her breed and purpose in Sonoma County.
In 2025, Dolly was requested 44 times from agencies
throughout Sonoma and Marin Counties. She was fully
deployed 10 times and had 3 successful finds. Dolly also attended 7 community events.
Dolly assisted neighboring agencies by locating assault suspects, a missing dementia patient, and found the source of a pool of blood located. When Dolly alerts to finding someone, she howls in excitement for her squeaky toy.
During her time off, Dolly lives at home with her K9 handler Officer Sullivan and his family.
40 CADETS AND VOLUNTEERS
The police department has both Cadets and Volunteers, providing them with an opportunity to assist our department and learn about career opportunities in law enforcement. Our cadets are typically high school students who help with mutual aid for parades and other events in Sonoma County, including the Butter and Eggs Festival, the Apple Blossom Festival, and our own Kids Day Parade and Festival.
Cadets also go on ride-alongs with officers, attend in-house trainings, and take criminal justice field trips.
Our volunteers help with daily duties at the police department, such as maintaining the inventory of police equipment and supplies. Often our cadets and volunteers become police officers, deputy sheriffs, and public safety dispatchers.
In addition, we assist Sonoma State University Police Department by taking their Student Interns on ride-alongs to allow them the opportunity to see how our agency operates. 41 COMMUNITY OUTREACH & SOCIAL MEDIA
In 2025, we hosted and participated in over 30
community events, including:
• National Night Out at La Plaza Park
• Coffee with a Cop at Johnny’s Java Cotati
• Cotati Kids Day Parade
• Cotati Candy Land at La Plaza Park
• Cotati Holiday Tree Lighting
• Cotati Shop and Stroll
• Rohnert Park/Cotati Rotary Toy Drive
• Apple Blossom Parade & Festival in Sebastopol
• Future Farmers Twilight Parade in Healdsburg
• Police Station Tours for local schools
• Petaluma Veterans Day Parade
• Petaluma Butter and Eggs Festival
• Cotati-Rohnert Park Co-Op Nursery K9 Dolly demo
• Thomas Page School safety presentation
• Sai’s Sprouts demo
• Thomas Page School international shake out day
drill
• Rohnert Park-Cotati Rotary Thanksgiving meal
event
We invite you to follow us on our social media platforms.
Our police department maintains a public information
presence to better engage with our residents and to be
accessible to our community where they are. In addition to the police page of the city website, and regular pieces in the Cotati Connection newsletter, we use Facebook
(now with over 7,200 followers), Instagram (now with
over 3,500 followers) and Civic Ready for time sensitive and emergency information.
42 COMMENDATIO
NS
2025 Cotati Police Officer of the Year
K9 Officer Ryan Sullivan
Chief’s Award
Corporal Detective Anthony Garber
Officer Wei Ze (David) Yu
Dispatcher Lauren Wiegman
71 total commendations and citizen commendations were
awarded to Cotati Police employees in 2025
2025 Cotati Police Employee of the Year
Police Services Specialist Katie
Huldermann
43 2026 SNAPSHOT
• Maintaining South County SAFE team; seeking long-term funding for field-level mental health response
• Community-Police Advisory Committee utilization
• Supervision organization and efficiency
• Enhanced traffic and DUI enforcement
• Utilizing technology for public safety needs against thefts and other crimes
• Cannabis Tax Grant, State Homeland Security Grant Program, and other funding stream acquisition and management.
• Staffing, Recruiting, Training, and Retention: Officer and Dispatcher • Continued community outreach and direct participation in a multitude of community events
44 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!